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TRANSFORMATION. The story of these two people began in 1918. She was an 18-year-old daughter of the Bolshoi Theatre soloist Mykola Chystiakov and moved from Moscow to Kyiv together with her family.
The love story of innovative director Les Kurbas and actress Valentyna Chystiakova unfolds amid Kyiv's theatrical scene from 1918 to the 1930s.
Key Takeaways
- Les Kurbas was a pioneering figure in Ukrainian theatre whose personal life deeply influenced his artistic work.
- Valentyna Chystiakova evolved from a young dancer to a prominent actress under Kurbas's mentorship.
- Their relationship endured significant trials, including love triangles, political repression, and personal tragedies.
- The couple's shared love for literature and theatre was central to their bond and creative collaboration.
- The story illustrates the impact of historical and political turmoil on artists in early Soviet Ukraine.
Summary
- Les Kurbas, a 31-year-old theatrical innovator, met 18-year-old Valentyna Chystiakova in Kyiv in 1918 during dance and theatre rehearsals.
- Valentyna was the daughter of a Bolshoi Theatre soloist and aspired to an artistic life, captivated by Kurbas's talent and intellect.
- Kurbas introduced Valentyna to his extensive library and encouraged her intellectual growth, marking the start of their personal and creative partnership.
- Before meeting Valentyna, Kurbas experienced a tragic love affair in 1914 that led to a failed suicide attempt, leaving him with a bullet in his heart.
- Kurbas and Valentyna married in 1919 and lived with Kurbas's mother, sharing a passion for books and theatre.
- Valentyna became a celebrated actress, performing major roles such as in Shakespeare's Macbeth and Ibsen's A Doll's House.
- Kurbas founded several theatres, including 'Kyidramte' and 'Berezil,' aiming to innovate Ukrainian theatre and support actors financially.
- In 1926, Valentyna had an affair with Kurbas's student Pavlo Kudrytskyi, which ended tragically with a near-drowning incident.
- Despite personal and political hardships, including accusations of subversion and Kurbas's dismissal in 1933, their story reflects resilience and dedication to art.
- The video highlights the intertwining of their personal lives with the turbulent cultural and political landscape of early 20th-century Ukraine.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
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In a house on 17 Prorizna Street, where Kyiv Academic Molodyi Theatre is located now, she took dance classes in the studio every day and prepared to enter the Conservatory.
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He was 13 years older than her. He was born in Sambir, the western part of Ukraine, descending from the family of actors.
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At the age of 31, he was called a genius and an innovator in theatrical directing.
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In the same room, he was rehearsing with his studio called “Molodyi Theatre.” In the same room, he was rehearsing with his studio called “Molodyi Theatre” (editor’s comment: in Ukrainian – “Молодий театр”).
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(editor’s comment: in Ukrainian – “Молодий театр”). They met during a break, when dance studio classes were over. They met during a break, when dance studio classes were over,
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and Molodyi Theatre actors were gathering for the rehearsal.
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and Molodyi Theatre actors were gathering for the rehearsal. So, his name was Les Kurbas and her name was Valentyna Chystiakova.
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“This meeting has defined my further destiny – both personal and creative... I was already interested in the work of Kurbas.
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And once I was introduced to him. This was a sudden beginning of my romance in Kyiv,” Valentyna Chystiakova recalled.
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Two of them often walked along the streets and parks of Kyiv. Chystiakova wrote in her memoirs, “The personality of Kurbas, his education, hard work, talent, dedication, dedication, and extraordinary attractiveness captivated me, the former high school girl who dreamed of an artistic life since her early years.”
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From the first day since they met, Chystiakova had to go to ‘universities’ – that was how she called her conversations during walks with the director.
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The knowledge of Kurbas covered various areas of science, art, and philosophy. Les tried to determine the knowledge scope of Valentyna and was upset because of its limitations, though she graduated from the gymnasium with honors.
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Chystiakova asked, “How can I enrich my knowledge?” Kurbas replied, “Read!” and invited her to get a look at his library.
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“I was shocked. There were shelves filled with books on all the walls up to the ceiling in a small, modest room.
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The books were everywhere – on the table, on the chairs, on the windowsill, and on the floor.” The first book Chystiakova got from the library of Kurbas was by Ibsen.
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This was the first stage of ‘Kurbas’s universities.’ Let's leave Les and Valentyna in a cozy room in Kyiv, filled with books, and return to 1914.
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Ternopil. Kurbas was an actor in the theatre called "Ruska Besida" (editor’s comment: in Ukrainian – “Руська бесіда”).
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The young actor Kurbas fell in love with his partner Kateryna Rubchakova. Her husband Ivan Rubchak was a director and head of the theatre "Ruska Besida."
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The relationship of two young people rapidly overstepped the bounds. Their relationship became obvious to the entire troupe.
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Kurbas knew that his behaviour was amoral and broke up his friendship with Rubchak... The feelings of Kurbas for Kateryna were unusually strong.
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And Les made a tragic decision to commit suicide. The maximalist Kurbas shot himself in the heart...
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Apparently, the gun was pointed at his chest at the wrong angle, or fate played its trick with him.
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The bullet, hitting the ribs, entered the heart and stopped a millimetre from the lethal outcome.
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Doctors decided not to pull it out of the heart muscle because it would cause death.
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Les Kurbas lived the rest of his life with a bullet in the heart... It was 1918. Kurbas had a new romance.
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It happened at Molodyi Theatre. Actors started being jealous of their director and the young ballerina Valentyna Chystiakova.
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Actor Vasyl Vasylko later recalled, “We noticed that Les began to be late for rehearsals.
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Then we found out that he fell in love with Chystiakova. And she was the cause of his delays.
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We thought: Valentyna arrived in Kyiv, and with the end of the civil war she would take our Les to Moscow..." But Kurbas did not betray anyone, but educated Chystiakova to become one of the best actresses of her time...
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In 1919, Kurbas and Chystiakova got married in St. Andrew's Church and settled on Kruglouniversytetska Street.
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Subsequently, the mother of Kurbas, Vanda Adolfivna, arrived in Kyiv and stayed with friends. Les took his wife to introduce her to her mother-in-law.
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The meeting was quite amusing. “Having learned about the marriage, Vanda Adolfivna laughed softly. Obviously, I amazed her by my infantilism – at the age of 18, I looked two years younger.” After returning home, Chystiakova failed to conceal her resentment.
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Kurbas was worried, “Did you not like my mother?” “I liked her. I am sad that she did not like me!..” No one would have believed that these two women No one would have believed that these two women would live together for more than 30 years!
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would live together for more than 30 years! Having settled together with his mother, Kurbas and Chystiakova considered their library the fourth family member.
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“The library was growing as if it was alive. The happiest moments were in the days of salary payment.
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Les would hire a cab and deliver the newly purchased books to the house.” That was the beginning of their married life.
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Chystiakova was popular among the theatre audience for her beauty, talent, and sincerity. Two years later, she was entrusted large and key roles: the witch in "Macbeth" by Shakespeare, Nora in "A Doll's House" by Ibsen...
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Kurbas affectionately called her "the monkey" because she could make funny faces. In 1920, Kurbas organized a theatre called "Kyidramte" (Kyiv Drama Theatre).
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The premieres were weekly, with the aim to support the actors financially. And in 1922, Kurbas founded the theatre called "Berezil" (editor’s comment: in Ukrainian – “Березіль”), which was later moved to Kharkiv, the capital at the time.
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Kurbas wanted to go with his actors to the province so that external events would not distract from art...
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But the reality was different. 1926 was a difficult year for Kurbas. There was general depression.
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He moved from Kyiv to Kharkiv... The drama happened in his family life. Valentyna Chystiakova fell in love with the best student of Kurbas – Pavlo Kudrytskyi...
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Kurbas saw Bereza-Kudrytskyi as a successor of his theatrical aesthetics. Pavlo was the most important person in the directing laboratory of Kurbas.
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The strong feeling captured Chystiakova and Kudrytskyi. Lovers realized that the news of their affair would kill Les.
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And they decided to put an end to this situation. Near the old bridge, Pavlo and Valentyna decided to drown their love in the Dnipro River...
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Pavlo was the first to rush into the Dnipro. He disappeared in the whirlpool and did not emerge. Chystiakova lost consciousness...
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And this saved her life. Passers-by rushed to Valentyna and started rescuing the life of Bereza-Kudrytskyi.
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It was impossible. Chystiakova fell into mental shock and was for a long time on the verge of insanity.
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Such condition of Valentyna brought Les Kurbas out of depression. He perceived this event with the stability of the ancient philosopher.
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Tenderness and sensitive attitude to Valentyna made a miracle. Chystiakova once again fell in love with her husband.
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It was 1933. Skrypnyk and Khvyliovyi shot themselves. The press heated the discussion on the reformatory theatre of Kurbas.
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"Berezil" was declared a "subversive organization." Many director's friends became his enemies. Kurbas was invited to the administration of the Communist Party of Ukraine.
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They required renunciation of his activity. Kurbas refused. The same evening, having gathered the actors, Les said goodbye to them, “I ask you only one thing – to think of our goal here. I wanted to create a theatre with you.”
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On October 5, 1933, a meeting at the People's Commissariat of Education of the USSR was held – Kurbas was dismissed from the position of an...
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He was hired by the Jewish Theatre to stage "King Lear". Kurbas only communicated with his wife and mother.
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They were going to visit him for the New Year. But on December 25, he was arrested without a warrant.
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In March 1934, Kurbas was sent to the prison in Kharkiv. Chystiakova brought parcels every day.
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“Whom to? She did not say but it was clear that this was for her husband.” And after a while, he disappeared completely.
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Life went on, and Valentyna returned to the theatre in Kharkiv. Her beauty did not grow dim even with age.
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Kurbas once said about young Chystiakova, 'Divinely beautiful.' And he was not alone in this belief.
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Actress Yuliia Fomina recalled that the whole theatre was in love with Chystiakova. At rehearsals, everyone tried to sit so that they could see Valentyna.
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Talented actress Valentyna Chystiakova played a lot, and she was compared with Eleonora Duse. She played Eugénie Grandet from the novel of Honoré de Balzac, Kateryna from "The Storm" by Ostrovskyi, Mariia Luchytska from "The Fate" by M. Starytskyi...
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The audience went insane. Strangers greeted her on the streets, and all citizens of Kharkiv grew roses to give them to Chystiakova after the performance.
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Rumour had it. The name of Kurbas was removed from the theatre, and Chystiakova had no news from her husband for years.
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She was the wife of the ‘public enemy’ for 20 years. And she continued to sign documents and photographs, 'Chystiakova, the wife of Kurbas.' – and all this was at the time when his name was forbidden.
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Chystiakova was accused that she did not share the fate of her husband. And after the posthumous rehabilitation of Kurbas, people blamed her that she refused to share her memories.
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“It is difficult for me to write about Oleksandr Stepanovych. I will never be able to forgive what happened.
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If the story is real, I shall have to curse the Soviet power. Such memories will not be published.” Theatre critic Valerii Hakkebush persuaded Valentyna Chystiakova to record her memories.
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“I went a long ‘way of the Cross’ full of thoughts about suicide, and finally overcame everything...
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Therefore! My current mask of fun and wit cost me an arm and a leg.” The only support for Chystiakova was the mother of Les, Vanda Adolfivna.
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She surprised with her kindness and courage. She had her own grief since she had buried six children, but inspired faith for a better tomorrow.
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“How could I hope that my life with the mother of Kurbas would bring me so much joy?
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How could I know that I would be amazed at the courage of this little woman till the end of my days?” She received the first news of her husband in 1957.
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The document stated that “the criminal case was dismissed due to the lack of elements of crime”.
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She knew it herself that Les was not the ‘public enemy’, but had no idea whether he was alive.
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The certificate dated 1961 reported that Oleksandr Kurbas died on November 15, 1942, from a cerebral haemorrhage.
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It was not true. Having lived to the age of 84, Valentyna never learned the true death cause of Kurbas...
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Valentyna Chystiakova was buried near the grave of Vanda Kurbas in Kharkiv. The monument also has the name of Les Kurbas.
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People brought to Kharkiv a handful of Solovetskyi land, where Kurbas was presumably buried in a mass grave.
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In October 1936, Les Kurbas was then moved to the remote Solovetskyi camps of special designation.
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According to the decision of the NKVD Troika, he was shot on November 3, 1937.
Topics:Les KurbasValentyna ChystiakovaUkrainian theatreBerezil theatreKyiv theatre historytheatrical innovationearly 20th century Ukrainetheatre directortheatre actressSoviet repression
